Spotted house snake (Boaedon maculatus)
Snakes · Difficulty: Beginner
Key facts and care guidance for Spotted house snake (Boaedon maculatus) (origin: Northeast Africa (Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia)). Adult size around males 60–80 cm, females 80–100 cm. Life expectancy 15–20 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Spotted house snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?
100×50×50 cm.
Spotted house snake: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot 32 °C, at night 20–23 °C.
Spotted house snake: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Not essential.
Spotted house snake: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 15–20 years.
Spotted house snake: Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 26–30 °C
- Night temperature
- 20–23 °C
- Basking spot
- 32 °C
- Humidity
- 50–65 %
- UVB
- Not essential
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- 100×50×50 cm
- Substrate
- Coco humus or beech granulate, hides in the warm and cool zones
Feeding
- Food
- Frozen-thawed mice
- Feeding interval
- Adults every 10–14 days, juveniles weekly.
Key facts
- Adult size
- males 60–80 cm, females 80–100 cm
- Life expectancy
- 15–20 years
- Origin
- Northeast Africa (Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia)
- Protection status
- Not listed under CITES
- Brumation
- None
- Cohabitation
- Keep singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide means competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is feeding: if two animals strike at the same prey item, one can swallow the other along with it, and house snakes are also known to cannibalise each other. On top of that, when kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. Put animals together under supervision for breeding and separate them again afterwards.
Notes
A nocturnal, calm house snake with a good feeding response — an easy-going species, like the brown house snake. In the wild it is known only from northeast Africa and is rarely recorded there; animals in the trade come from captive breeding. Females frequently lay eggs even without a male, so keep an eye on calcium.
Do you keep this species?
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Spotted house snake (Boaedon maculatus) currently offered
- Afrikanische Hausschlange (Boaedon maculatus) – Belau · 100 €
Related species
- African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) – Beginner
- Striped house snake (Boaedon lineatus) – Beginner
- Cape house snake (Boaedon capensis) – Beginner
- Common egg-eating snake (Dasypeltis scabra) – Intermediate
- False water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas) – Experts
- Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) – Intermediate
- Smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis) – Expert
- Rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) – Intermediate
What you need to start
To keep Spotted house snake (Boaedon maculatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm), substrate (Coco humus or beech granulate, hides in the warm and cool zones), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 24 September 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: dubiaroaches.com, einrichtungsbeispiele.de, eur-lex.europa.eu, reptile-care.de, reptile-database.reptarium.cz
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).